You don’t want your court notice getting buried in your invoices, deliveries and Business Mail.
Having a Registered Agent for your LLC or corporation means you have someone to accept service of process and mail from the state on your behalf. Then they forward it to your business. You meet a vital aspect of running your business without having to sit at the agent’s location during business hours.
What’s the most valuable thing? It will depend on your needs. If you want to receive your daily Business Mail from home as well, iPostal1 comes out on top in this article. These alternatives all offer different forms of expert advice, forming a business or staying compliant.
In This Guide
- What a registered agent service should cover
- iPostal1
- Northwest Registered Agent
- ZenBusiness
- LegalZoom
- Registered agent services compared
- How to choose the right service
- Final verdict
What a Registered Agent Service Should Cover
Most LLCs and corporations must have a Registered Agent in the US. According to the Small Business Administration they must be in the same state your business is registered.
If you’re away from home you also want to know that you will be notified quickly and can retrieve your records.
Make sure you understand these before you buy.
- Where is the service available? Make sure you can use the agent in the states you need to have an agent.
- Who receives the notices? You’ll want someone that you can trust to know that they will receive your notices and let you know about legal documents or notices from the state.
- What does it cost? Understand the cost of having a Registered Agent, what other plans you will need and if there are any charges for documents.
1. iPostal1: Best for Business Mail and Legal Notices Together
iPostal1 stands out as a first choice for those looking for a Registered Agent and Business Mail. They allow you to log into a safe website and receive your Business Mail and legal notices from your Registered Agent. Although your Business Mail and legal notices will come in on two different fronts.
If you’re working from home and have an LLC, it allows you to keep your home address off your Registered Agent information. It also allows you to see what notices you may have missed on a single website instead of checking another company’s website.
Here are some things iPostal1 can offer you.
- Agent at a local office. If you need an agent in an eligible state while keeping Business Mail elsewhere, iPostal1 has a staffed office with a Registered Agent.
- Receive mail for your business. From service of process to state tax notices, annual-report notices and anything else that may be sent to your business. iPostal1 staff will receive it during business hours.
- Track your notices. Once iPostal1 receives legal notices for your business, the team will upload them to your safe online dashboard. The team will also let you know if there are any notices that may be time sensitive.
- Keep your documents safe. All documents uploaded to the dashboard are stored securely. iPostal1 will also keep hard copies of your documents for at least 90 days and then securely shred them.
- Manage your Business Mail. You can use the iPostal1 website or mobile app to view and manage your Business Mail.
Know what you’re paying for. When you sign up for iPostal1, the Registered Agent Service is $99/year. Your first five Registered Agent documents received each month will be prioritized and automatically uploaded. Any other documents that come in for your Registered Agent will be charged at standard rates.
One thing to know. iPostal1’s Registered Agent Service is an add-on to your Virtual Business Address or Virtual Office. You will need to have an active business mailbox plan and only some states are eligible for an agent. So $99 is not all inclusive for a new customer. But if you already have a virtual box, you can save time by receiving your mail and legal notices all in one place.
Say you need someone to receive your state tax notices for your LLC. An iPostal1 local office can receive it, upload the notice and notify you that you have a document that you should be aware of.
When it comes to this use case, iPostal1 is the best registered agent solution.
2. Northwest Registered Agent: Best for Specialist Guidance
Some people may want to work with an expert in the field. Northwest Registered Agent can provide that to you.
They can give you an agent, online access to your documents and local offices to scan your notices for you. Their Corporate Guides can also answer any questions you may have about your business and offer additional services.
They offer an expert to go along with your documents. Which can be beneficial when you’re creating your LLC, changing your Registered Agent or need to know more about your state’s requirements.
You can find many great reviews about their company. From their latest public reviews they have been praised for their employees and easy setup process. Keep in mind that these are about their whole company.
They offer a yearly price for your agent and information about your business. Unlike iPostal1, they are more focused on helping you with your agent.
3. ZenBusiness: Best for Owners Forming an LLC
Another company that can help you with your Registered Agent is ZenBusiness.
They can receive your notices and provide online access to them. They also offer many services that you can use to start your business.
This may be a benefit to you if you want to create your LLC and use one company to do everything for you.
They offer a discounted price for the first year if you use them to create your LLC. After the first year, your agent will cost more per year. They claim to have an agent in every state for LLCs and Corporations.
If you’re trying to create your LLC, they can help you. Just keep in mind that the first year price is a discount and you will have to pay more each year after.
4. LegalZoom: Best for Compliance Reminders and Agent Changes
LegalZoom also offers you a Registered Agent.
They can receive your legal notices, scan them and let you know when you have an upcoming annual report. They will also help you with the process of changing your current Registered Agent and pay for your state’s fee.
If you currently have a Registered Agent and are looking to change, they can help you do that.
If convenience is what you’re looking for, they can do that. Their yearly price is on the higher end of this list, so if you don’t plan on using any other services, you may want to look elsewhere.
Registered Agent Services Compared
| Company | Who they are best for | Access to your documents | Special Services |
| iPostal1 | If you have a virtual box | Online | Business Mail and Legal Notices |
| Northwest Registered Agent | Want someone to help you with your agent | Online | Corporate Guides and Agents |
| ZenBusiness | If you’re creating an LLC | Online | Create your LLC and more |
| LegalZoom | Changing your current agent | Online | Annual Reports and Changing Agents |
How to Choose the Right Service
There are many factors to think about when finding a Registered Agent. You may not just need someone to receive your notices, but something more.
- Do you already have a virtual box?
- Are you creating an LLC?
- Do you have multiple states you need an agent in?
- Are you changing your current agent?
- Do you want to receive confidential documents at home?
You should always know what type of privacy you want when using a Registered Agent. Listing the agent’s address in the Registered Agent field can help you keep your home address private. Some states will ask for your business or home address on other filings.
Final Verdict
All of these companies can offer you a Registered Agent. Some are better at offering expert help, others can help you form your business or remind you about your annual reports.
But if you want to reduce how much you manage when running a business, iPostal1 should be your first choice. With local offices, storing your documents safely and allowing you to manage your Business Mail and legal notices, you can focus on running your business.